Basic principles of the Newcastle penile cuff test

In order to establish the cause of lower urinary tract symptoms, there is a need for pressure measurements during voiding. Conventional cystometry is expensive, time-consuming and has some morbidity, and so treatment may be undertaken on the basis of history and symptoms alone. We have developed a non-invasive technique to estimate bladder pressure during voiding using a penile cuff. We present the basic physical principles of the measurement, and evidence to suggest that these principles hold true in the clinic. We conclude with preliminary data from simultaneous application of the cuff test and conventional urodynamics, suggesting the role for this new test in clinical practice.